Paper-cutter.



PATENTED JAN. 20; 1903.

M. NELSON.

PAPER CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1901.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- MEYNARDIE NELSON, OF LITTLETON, NORTH CAROLINA.

PAPER-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,722, dated January 20, 1903.

Application filed November 4, 1901. Serial No. 81,076. (No model.)

To all whom, iv flea/y concern:

Be it known that I, MEYNARDIE NELSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Littleton, in the county of Halifax and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Cutters, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to paper-cutters for use in stores; and the object of my invention is to provide a simple and improved cutter of this class which possesses advantages in point of convenience, inexpensiveness, effectiveness, and general efficiency.

Ordinarily it has been customary to have the paper-cutter placed horizontally,whereby the weight of the roll of paper is borne by the axle on which it turns, with the result that at both ends of the axle there is considerable friction to be overcome whenever it is desired to tear off a piece of paper. The ends of the axle are also rapidly worn out. These objections are overcome in my improved papercutter by placing it vertically, doing away with the necessity of an axle for the roll of paper to turn on.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a paper-cutter embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the roll of paper being removed and the cutter turned back. Fig; 3 is a bottom plan View of the revolving base on which the roll of paper rests. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the base.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters.

My improved paper-cutter comprises in general a base 1, which may be secured inv any suitable manner at a convenient point on the counter or shelving of the store, a standard 2, rising from the basel and bent at the top, its upper end being provided with a vertical aperture 3 to receive a guide-rod 4 and a thumb-screw 5, extending transversely to the aperture 3, a knife 6, carried by coiled springs 7, secured on the standard 2, and a revoluble base 8, mounted on a stud 9, carried by the base 1.

In the form of my invention shown in the drawings and which, if desired, may be the preferred form my improved papercutter comprises a base 1, adapted to be secured upon the end of a store-counter in any suitable manner, herein shown as by screws 10.

The base 1, as shown herein, is provided in its upper surface with an annular raceway 11, in which antifriction devices, herein shown as balls 12, may be placed.

Secured in the base 1 in the center of the circle formed by the raceway 11 is a stud 9. Around this stud 9 a support 8 for the roll of paper revolves, the support 8 being provided in the under surface with an annular raceway 13, complementary to the raceway 11 in the base 1.

Rising from the base 1 at a suitable distance from the stud 9 is a standard 2, the upper part of which standard 2 extends over the roll of paper 14 when in place, said standard 2 having at its upper end a vertical aperture 3, which rsgisters with the stud 9. The standard 2 is provided with a screw-threaded hole 15, extending transversely into the aperture 3, and in the hole 15 a thumb-screw 5 works. A guide-rod 4 slides in the aperture 3.

A knife 6 of suitable shape and material, herein shown as a thin piece of sheet-steel, is secured to the standard 2 in any suitable manner to permit ofits being turned about said standard 2 and to press against the roll of paper 14 when the latter is in place on the cutter. It is herein shown as secured to the ends of coiled steel-wire springs 7, as by rivets, the other ends of said springs 7 being coiled around and secured to the standard 2.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood and appreciated.

In the use of my improved paper-cutter to insert a roll of paper 14 all that is necessary is to loosen the thumb-screw 5 and slide the guide-rod 4 up, place the roll of paper 14 over the stud 9, its lower end resting on the revolving base 8 and the knife 6 pressing against its outer surface, and slide the guide-rod 4 antifriction devices, so that a touch is sulficient to revolve the rollof paper; convenience of measuring the amount of paper desired, since the paper is right up before your eyes and the knife being pressed against the roll by springs keeps the paper in perfect shape; readiness with which a roll of paper can be removed or inserted, as heretofore explained; inexpensivenessofits manufacture, the frame being molded in two pieces and the base and revolving base being made of any hard wood, with simple annular grooves cut in them and the balls being marbles or bullets or any other round objects; neatness of appearance, since it presents to one in front a view of the roll of paper merely and the nickel knob at the top; compactness, since it occupies the least possible space horizontally, the roll of paper being on end and the device being but little larger than the diameter of the roll, and uniformity of operation, the last out being as easily and smoothly made as the first.

It is evident that my invention and improvements may be applied to a variety of uses in their general scope and characteristics other than the specific use as a papercutter. It is furthermore manifest that variation and modification in the detail features of construction and in the arrangement of the specific parts of the device maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to all such variation and modification as properly come within the scope and spirit of my invention and the terms of the following claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent A device of the class described, consisting of a combination of the following instrumentalities, viz: a stationary base having a centrally located upwardly projecting fixed stud, a revoluble base for supporting the roll of material and superposed on said stationary base and fitting loosely oversaid stud, an antifriction deviceas ball-bearings-between said stationary and revoluble bases, a vertical fixed standard rising from the fixed base at such distance from the central stud as will conveniently clear the roll of material, and having its upper end returned and provided with an aperture in alinement vertically with the stud below, a guide-rod for the upper end of the roll of material passing through said aperture and adapted to be secured therein, a vertically-disposed knife parallel with the standard proper, and springarms supporting the knife directly from the standard, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

M. NELSON. \Vitnesses:

Jo. RoDWELL, J. R. LITTELL. 

